Franklin County commissioners to hold hearings on raising sales tax

Thursday

Aug 29, 2013 at 12:01 AMAug 30, 2013 at 8:21 AM

Franklin County residents will have three chances to tell Franklin County Commissioners what they think about a planned increase in the county's sales-tax rate. The commissioners said they'll hold three public hearings next month to gather feedback on a plan to raise the sales-tax rate either a quarter- or half-cent per dollar.

Josh Jarman, The Columbus Dispatch

Franklin County residents will have three chances to tell Franklin County Commissioners what they think about a planned increase in the county’s sales-tax rate.

The commissioners said they’ll hold three public hearings next month to gather feedback on a plan to raise the sales-tax rate either a quarter- or half-cent per dollar:

• 5:30 p.m. Sept. 9 in the first-floor auditorium at the Franklin County Government Center, 373 S. High St., Columbus.

• 9 a.m. Sept. 24 in the commissioners’ hearing room on the 26th floor of the Franklin County Government Center, 373 S. High St., Columbus.

The commissioners have said that they need to raise new revenue to offset state and federal cuts and provide the same level of services to residents while accounting for the county’s growing population. The money also would be used to create an economic-development fund that would help businesses locate or expand here, which will create jobs, the commissioners have said.

A sales-tax increase also would pay for a $150 million jail and $50 million morgue, both of which need to be built in the next five years, county officials have said.

State law requires the county to hold at least two public hearings before raising the sales-tax rate.

The commissioners are expected to vote on a resolution to raise the tax rate after the public hearing at their Sept. 24 meeting.

The timing aligns perfectly with a memo that was delivered to commissioners in January outlining the steps the county would need to take to enact a sales-tax increase by Jan. 1, 2014. The memo, from County Administrator Don Brown, points out that the commissioners should vote on the measure on Sept. 24 so that it can be delivered to the state tax commissioner by Sept. 27.

State law requires the tax commissioner to be notified at least 65 days before a sales-tax increase can take effect, meaning to take effect on Jan. 1, it must be presented in late October.

Adopting the resolution a month earlier than that will allow the county’s budget team to account for the increased revenue when developing the county’s 2014 budget, Brown wrote.

Residents who cannot attend one of the meetings but still want to weigh in on the tax hike can send letters to: Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, 373 S. High St., 26th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215. Or email commissioners@franklincountyohio.gov.